WOOP! Chapter 2, toldja it'd be up quick! Hehe, yeh there's another song in here somewhere I think :3 so have youtube or spotify ready if you want ;) hope you enjoy!

"No, no, no! That belongs over there, Remus, by the other decorations! I'll shrink and tidy them away myself later, get on with the rest!"

Molly Weasley's shrill commanding voice barked across the room at a slightly scared looking Lupin. After waving Ron and Luna off on their honeymoon, a small group of guests had offered to stay behind to help pack the decorations away. As Hermione was spending the summer at the Burrow she felt obliged to stay and help, not that she wouldn't have done otherwise. She gave a small grunt as she tried pushing a table to the edge of the barn. She wished she could use Wingardium Leviosa but it was pointless, much of the air was already filled with objects being levitated by lazy witches and wizards, another table floating would certainly cause havoc!

"Here, let me," said a familiar voice from behind. Fred stepped forward and began pushing the table, with success this time. Without noticing, Hermione's eyes moved over his arms, Fred's sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing strong, tensed muscles rippling with the effort of moving the heavy oak table.

CLUNK!

Hermione sprawled onto the floor.

"Woops! Sorry!" came Sirius' cheeky laughter. "Looks like Hermione wasn't paying much…attention to her surroundings!"

Hermione whipped her head round to glare at Sirius, who shrugged and continued levitating lanterns down from the barn's rafters.

"You ok down there, 'Mione?" Fred's smiling voice came from above her.

"Yes, I'm just watching the world from Dobby's point of view(!) Help me up already!"

Fred pulled her up and turned back to tidying things away. Hermione's eyes lingered on him for a few seconds more, her hand rubbing the crown of her head where the lantern had connected with it, before she too began to tidy things up again.

For a July night, it was quite cold outside. Maybe it was just the evil feeling that seemed to remain from the deatheater's attack all those years ago that made the marshy fields colder and scarier. Shivering slightly, Hermione set off towards the Burrow. She didn't particularly like the dark damp marshes, but she enjoyed the clear starry sky above her, so instead of apparating like everyone else, Hermione decided to walk the short mile back. ~Music: The Sunrise, Windsor Airlift~ The long grass danced around her in the wind and she lifted her face to the diamond-studded night sky. Inhaling deeply, she smiled and closed her eyes, raising her arms slightly and mimicking the foot movements Fred had used earlier when they were dancing. Hermione hummed a tune to herself and spun in small circles, the cool air whipping her hair about her face. Quite suddenly her foot caught in the muddy weeds and she fell straight into the cloudy water next to the makeshift path.

"Oh great!" she said aloud, muddied water dripping down her new dress. What was that drying spell? She knew she'd used it before. Grumbling she got to her feet and steadied herself, when she heard someone approaching through the water. Whoever they were, they were very close but she could see no one. A gnome emerged from the long grass, saw Hermione and froze. Hermione looked at the gnome, the gnome looked at Hermione. They stayed that way for a few more seconds until the gnome stuck out it's tongue and scuttled off through the grass, muttering something about 'reinforcements' and 'storming the garden'. Sighing, Hermione looked back down at her wet clothes that were now immodestly clinging to her body.

"Dammit! What IS that spell?!"

Suddenly a warm feeling flew from her head to her toes and her dress looked as good as new. Whirling around to face the mystery person who had cast the spell, she seemed unsurprised that it was Fred, he kept popping up from nowhere.

"Taking an evening bath?" he asked innocently. Hermione's eyebrows raised a fraction, but she still smiled at him.

"Thank-you but I would have got there eventually."

"Suuure you would, now get back on the path!"

She took a step towards him but a searing pain shot through her ankle and she would have fallen back into the waters had he not caught her arm.

"Must've sprained it when you fell, here let me. Episkey!"

Hermione's ankle returned to normal size and colour and a strange hot and cold feeling ran through it. Smiling at his spellwork, Fred hauled her out from the mud and back onto the path. It still hurt a little to walk however so Fred put his arm round Hermione's back and they slowly started to hobble along the path.

"So what made you wander the marshes like a Banshee?"

Fred looked down at her, his warm eyes smiling. With her free arm, she gestured to the starry night sky.

"It would have been such a shame to waste a beautiful evening!"

"Ah! I see," he nodded.

They walked a fair distance in silence, Hermione limping a little, before she turned her face to him, wanting to ask him a question. But Fred's eyes were already watching her and she suddenly forgot her question as she found herself lost in his hazel eyes that were like the forest floor, the fern and bark, colours ever-changing with the seasons.

"Um…" was all that escaped her lips, she willed her mind to clear and cooperate.

"What?"

The hazel eyes crinkled at the corners into a smile. She was very close to his face now, so close she could have counted the freckles, on the bridge of his nose if she'd wanted.

"I was...just…"

She could feel his breath moving strands of her brown curls.

"I just wondered how you know I was here, I didn't see you or hear you, yet you must have been close enough to help me so quickly, did you use a Disillusionment charm? I heard a noise but it turned out to be a gnome who stared at me for a bit then-"

Hermione rattled on until Fred put his finger tip over her mouth.

"We must not look at Goblin men,

We must not buy their fruits:

Who knows upon what soil they fed

Their hungry thirsty roots?"

He said before laughing at her confused expression. Lowering his hand slowly from her face, they continued along the path.

"Christina Rosetti!" Hermione smiled, "'The Goblin Market'…don't say that in Gringotts whatever you do! They'll send you to the bottom of the vaults and leave you there with the dragons!"

Fred chuckled

"Don't worry, I won't!"

Not long after, they finally arrived at the Burrow.

"Well that was a nice adventure!" Fred sighed in mock exasperation. Creeping quietly into the house, Hermione saw the miniature picture of Fred move from 'Out' to 'Home' on the special family clock. Carefully, the two young adults tiptoed up the rickety stairs. They both paused outside Ginny's room, in which Hermione usually stayed in whenever she was at the Weasley's.

"Right…um…well thanks Fred."

"For what?"

"For…well…helping me back I suppose, and fixing my ankle."

He smiled kindly at her, Hermione realised she rarely saw this kind smile of Fred's, it was usually a teasing grin or that smirk he did whenever he pulled off a good prank.

"You're very welcome, 'Mione." Fred said in a low, gentle voice. It was only then that Hermione noticed how close they were standing, for the third time that evening. She could hear her heart hammering loudly against her chest. Could he hear it? Or was his heart beating so hard it threatened to burst out of his chest too?

"Good-…goodnight, Fred…" she whispered, hoping her thundering heart wouldn't jump out of her mouth.

"Night…'Mione," he murmured, looking deep into her eyes, before she turned and fled into the refuge of the bedroom. Refuge from those eyes that so easily ensnared her.

Bazinga! How'd y'all like that? Lol 'y'all'! That's so American….I'm not American though…can I use it anyway? :P Ehehe so anyways Keep an eye out for the next one laddies and ladies!